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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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A group of alleged human traffickers from Mexico has been accused of using a jet ski to smuggle scores of unauthorized migrants to the United States.
Authorities seized over $100,000 and two boxes of ammunition during
a raid at a suspected stash house in San Diego and Los Angeles. Agents previously seized more than $120,000 during the investigation.
Nine of the 19 suspects remain in custody, charged with coordinating the smuggling of dozens of unauthorized migrants into the country. The remaining defendants are wanted fugitives, and their names have not yet been released.
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The group allegedly charged between approximately $7,000 and $16,000 per person and moved tens of thousands of dollars in profits from San Diego to Mexico.
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Court documents allege the defendants were also responsible for transporting the migrants to Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Las Vegas.
Edgar Jiminez Macias, 33, Alex Ceja Guzman, 30, and Tobias Julian Burgara Gonzalez, 32, of Tijuana, Mexico, and Junior Zavala Ramirez, 34, of Tecate, Mexico, remain in custody.
They are charged with conspiracy to bring in aliens for financial gain and bringing in aliens for financial gain and aiding and abetting.
If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000.
Additional defendants Ivan Pulido Jauregui, 49, Manuel Gonzalez Lopez, 26, Jesus Misael Molina Flores, 20, Alexis Adrian Villela Inda, 29, and Mateo Adrian Alduenda Gutierrez, 26, all of Nayarit, Mexico, are also in custody and are charged with conspiracy to bring in aliens for financial gain.
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They each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine if convicted.
A grand jury returned an indictment against 14 members of the organization, and a complaint was filed against an additional five.
According to the unsealed indictment, the suspects participated in a long-running operation to unlawfully bring people from Mexico into the United States by land and sea.
The organized crime gang arranged to drop off migrants to coastal areas such as Sunset Cliffs, Bird Rock in La Jolla, and Imperial Beach, California, often in dangerous conditions at night.
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The majority of migrants smuggled were aboard personal watercraft through the Pacific Ocean. Smugglers tend to favor jetskis for their rapid speed and ability to approach shore quickly. It gives smugglers a higher chance of evading authorities after a swift drop-off.
The nine defendants were caught at ports of entry or elsewhere in San Diego last week.
"The Justice Department is committed to dismantling transnational human smuggling operations that prey on migrants and threaten our national security," said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.
"Nefarious organizations like the one charged in this case can expect to answer for their alleged crimes in American courtrooms."
"Human smuggling cases are a top priority because lives are at stake," said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath for the Southern District of California.
"Whether racing a jet ski up the coast without lifejackets or hauling a tractor-trailer packed with people, smugglers expose vulnerable migrants to extreme danger and prioritize profit over human life."
"Every aspect of human smuggling—whether it be by land, sea, or aircraft—puts lives at risk," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Davis of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego.
"HSI and our partner agencies are committed to curbing this illegal activity that's solely designed to enrich greedy smugglers' financial pockets."
"This indictment serves as notice to those transnational criminal organizations operating along our coastal border that it is only a matter of time before they are brought to justice," said San Diego Sector Chief
Border Patrol Agent Patricia McGurk-Daniel.
"Our focus continues to be on protecting our nation, and we will leverage all available resources to hold these criminals accountable for their actions."
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